The Teachings of the Qur'an

The basic objective of the Qur'an is to awaken man's awareness of the Sovereignty of Allah in the universe and in human affairs. Man is merely a trustee in the vast universe of Allah, and the purpose of his creation is to worship Allah. Every act we perform can be an act of worship, if it is done with good intention and in accordance with the laws given by Allah. So the ultimate responsibility of each person is to Allah alone, and every human being will be questioned concerning what he did with Allah's gifts: life itself, faculties, talents, intellect, time, possessions and all that one has been given.
Excellence in this life is a prerequisite for excellence in the future life. Thus, the Qur'an exhorts people to observe, to think, to investigate and to search earnestly for truth. It urges people to help others, in seeking justice for all and in striving for peace among the peoples of the earth. It asks every man to free himself from servitude to other men and from bondage to his own desires. Thus, the Qur'an speaks of Allah's piety (Taqwa) as the basis of all good actions. It teaches us how the subservience to Allah must reach the innermost recesses of the heart. Hence, we will sincerely believe that everything good we have is from Allah and that we shall return to Him.
In brief, when a Muslim reads the Qur'an he considers himself to be worshipping, because he repeats the words of Allah with the determination to observe the Commands of Allah. The Qur'an is the first source of Muslim belief and law. We Muslims believe that it will be preserved from change until the end of the world, because Allah says: Surely we have revealed the Qur'an (the Remembrance) and certainly we will preserve it.(AL-HIJR:9).

How to read the Qur'an

The Qur'an is the word of Allah, the Almighty. Nobody, not even the prophet Muhammad (PBUH) has the right to change, add or delete one word of the Qur'an. The arrangement of Qur'an into chapters and verses has been done in accordance to the guidance of the prophet Muhammad (PBUH). If one remembers that the Qur'an was communicated to the prophet Muhammad (PBUH) over a period of twenty – three years, a little at a time, it becomes plain that it should be read in the same way that demands meditation, understanding and observances. The Qur'an is the word of Allah addressed to man to be a guide for his conduct for all time to come. Its basic purpose is to instruct and to teach. The Qur'an is not a history book, nor a biography, nor a collection of sayings. So the way of reading the Qur'an must reflect how it explains and illustrates the basic principles in various ways, and in an infinite verity. Thus, the more we study the Qur'an in the light of our growing knowledge of the world, and of man, and of Allah's purpose, the more truthful facts await us in the unfolding of its meanings.
We find much passage in Qur'an which describe its origin, its purpose and its style. The passages give comprehensive answers to the glory of Allah's words in a way that no other book has provided for so many people, over so long a span of time. The Qur'an – also referred to as the book of Allah (kitab ul Allah) speech of Allah (kitab ul Allah) the Message (Al thikr) and the Criterion ( Al Furqan) is the speech of Allah in the Arabic language, communicated to the prophet Muhammad (PBUH) by the Glorious and Trustworthy Spirit the Angel Gabriel.
Its message is conveyed in an easy language that explains matters clearly, in a consistent way and with no contradiction. None of its language and no part of the Qur'an can be imitated by men; they are unable to produce even few sentences like those found in the Qur'an whether in content or expression. So the Qur'an as we read it today is exactly the same as it was received by the Profit Muhammad (PBUH). Allah guards its purity and addresses it to all mankind, to be a guide in this world and to give glad tidings of the Next World to those who follow a righteous way of life.

The story of the compiling of the Qur'an

The Qur'an has been written down ever since its early revelation. The prophet used to tell the Scribers of Revelation to write down the revelation he received. He also ordered them to put each verse in a certain place in a certain chapter. Yet, the whole of the Qur'an in one arrangement was safely preserved in the memories of men who were called "Qrra" or reciters. But it happened that many of reciters fell in the famous battle of Yamama in the Caliphate of Abu Bakr. It was then that Omar urged upon Abu Bakr the necessity of compiling the Qur'an in a standard written copy, so that no portion of the Holy Qur'an should be lost ever if all the reciters should die. The standard written copy was prepared and entrusted to the care of Hafsah.
Still there were other copies used by the companions in far away places. Some words of the Qur'an happened to be pronounced with variants especially by no-Arab converts to Qur'an in her possession. He, with other Companions, then made copies from the original copy of Hafsah or ordered all other copies to be collected and burnt. Thanks to God, and as he himself promised, the Qur'an stands as it was dictated, recited and arranged by the prophet more than 14 centuries ago.

The Compiling of the Qur'an

The Qur'an has been written down ever since its early revelation. The prophet Mohamed (PBUH) used to have a number of writers, who were known as the writers of revelation He used to tell them to write down the revelation he received, and order
Them to put each verse in a certain place in a certain chapter. The prophet (PBUH) used to teach the revelations to his companions by recitation. When they had learnt them they all used to recite the Glorious Qur'an day and night.
It was the habit of the profit (PBUH) to recite the Glories Qur'an, once during the month of Ramadan, while the angel Gabriel listened to him. But in the last year of his life he recited the Glorious Qur'an, with Gabriel, twice during the month of Ramadan.

The companions of the profit (PBUH) were eager to memorize the Glorious Qur'an and they recited it resonant intonation, alone or in company, quoted its passages and found in that. The greatest satisfaction and the deepest joy. Among those who memorized the whole Qur'an in the lifetime of the prophet (PBUH) were: Mu`ath Ibn Jabal "Ubayy Ibn Ka`b, Abu-Darda", Abu Ayyub and badah Ibn Al-samit.
But when it was first written, the Glorious Qur'an was not written in one volume, for it was written on bones of animals, on animal skins and on the bark of trees. After the prophet's death (PBUH) in 632A.C, "Omar impressed upon Abu Bakr, the first Caliph, and the urgency of compiling the entire Qur'an volume.
Abu Bakr instructed Zayd Ibn Thabet, Muhammad's chief scriber of revelation, to collect the entire Qur'an. When all chapters were collected by Zayd, a committee was appointed to have the whole of the Qur'an copied in one volume under theirs supervision. The committee was directed to follow the pronunciation of the Mudar tribe (one branch of which was the Quraysh family, to which the prophet belonged) as the Qur'an had been revealed in the language of Mudar. This standard text was reviewed by many Companions, including the five who had memorized it all, and approved by them as being complete and accurate. It was then placed in the custody of the prophet's widow, "Omar's daughter Hafsah.
Then the third Caliph, "Othman learns that, in far-off places, some words of the Qur'an were being pronounced with variants, especially by non-Arab converts to Islam." Othman acted swiftly. He consulted the prominent Companions and appointed a committee of four members, including Zayd Ibn Thabet, to deal with the situation. All copies of the Qur'an which were in use were collected and replaced by copies of the standard versions (which were with Hafsah), to be recited according to the dialect of Quraysh, the very same dialect in which prophet Muhammad (PBUH) himself had recited the original. Apart from the orthographical marks inserted in later times to make reading and recitation easy, the Qur'an as printed today is identical with the version authorized by "Othman and the Companions of the prophet in 651A.C.
From these facts, scholars have concluded that the Qur'an stands as it was dictated, recited and arranged by the prophet (PBUH). It is a matter of historic record that there have never been any additions to it no omissions from it, any no distortion have occurred in it, and indeed the authenticity of Qur'an is pledged by God Himself:
"Certainly we have sent down the Message and assuredly we will be its guardian." (Al-Hijr: 9) .

Prayer in Islam

Prayer is the second pillar of Islam. It is obligatory on every adult Muslim. The Muslim has to perform fife prayers a day. They are the dawn prayer, the noon prayer, the afternoon prayer, the sunset prayer and the night prayer. Before performing prayer, we must wash our uncovered parts of our body.
A Muslim can pray. Supplication is also a kind of prayer in which we beg God for His bounty, His mercy and forgiveness.
The Friday prayer is a congregational prayer performed at noon time and preceded by a sermon. The two Eid's prayers are also performed in congregation. But each of the two prayers needs no call to prayer or summons. They are performed a short time after sunrise and followed by a sermon.

the Prayer

Belief in Allah makes practical obedience a must. There are different forms of practical obedience that are commonly known as acts of worship (Ibadah). Ibadah is an Arabic word that means worship and submission. The Islamic concept of Ibadah is very wide. All of one's activities can be regarded as a from of Ibadah if they are in accordance with the Divine Law and if one's goal is to seek the satisfaction of Allah. More specifically, a set of formal Ibadah or acts of worship has been drawn up for Muslims to follow. These set is made up of the profession of faith (shahadah), prayer (salah), fasting (sawm), alms (zakah), and pilgrimage (hajj).
Salah or prayer is the most fundamental of these obligations. Muslims are required to pray five times a day. These prayers, which consist of repeating and refreshing the Muslims faith five times a day. These daily prayers take place at dawn, noon, in the afternoon, at sunset and at night. In preparation for prayer, a Muslim cleanses himself or herself through performing the ablution. Upon the call to prayer, a Muslim dissociates himself from all worldly engagements for a few moments. This reminds a Muslim of his or her real goal in life.
The frequency and timing of prayer never let a Muslim lose sight of the aim and mission of life within the distraction worldly activities Therefore, it appears that prayer strengthens the foundations of a Muslim's faith and prepares him or her for the observance of life of virtue and obedience to Allah and also refreshes that faith from which springs courage, sincerity, purposefulness, purity of heart, and enrichment of morals. If a Muslim is aware of his or her duties towards Allah and places those duties above all worldly gains agins, if a Muslim keeps refreshing his or her commitment to the Creator, he or she will be honest in all dealings and will eventually be graciously rewarded by Allah.